Episode · Freakonomics Radio · 2026-06-05
Books mentioned on 676. Has America Lost the Plot?
Another war in the Middle East. A retreat from the international order.
Fareed Zakaria recommended The Accidental Superpower by Mr. Peter Zeihan, and discussed The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith. Stephen Dubner recommended Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
The Affluent Society
The Affluent Society by John Kenneth Galbraith is a classic economic treatise that examines the paradox of private wealth and public neglect in mid-century America.
Discussed“John Kenneth Golreth said in the affluence society which was published in the early 1960s I think he said the mark of the United States is private affluence and public squalor.”
Where to get it
-
The Accidental Superpower
The Accidental Superpower by Mr.
Recommended“There was a very very good book by Peter Zahhan called the accidental superpower which makes this point very powerfully.”
Where to get it
-
Soccernomics
Soccernomics by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski is an insightful sports analytics book that applies economic theory and data to the world of soccer.
Recommended“It is based on the book of the same name by Simon Cooper and Stefan Shaminesky.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Plugged Age of Revolutions
“Fared Zakari's most recent book is called Age of Revolutions: Progress and Backlash from 1600 to the present.”